Episode 11: Lessons from Losing My Voice: Gratitude and Growth

I'm a chatterbox. Always have been. So when I lost my voice for almost two weeks, it threw my whole world (and business) into a bit of chaos. In this episode I'm sharing the five things this experience taught me, told countdown-style.

In this episode:

• Why being quiet is harder than it sounds when your voice is your main business tool
• The podcast banking lesson I should have learnt the first time (and didn't)
• The "awkward middle child" problem of small business owners: not great at being sick, hate letting people down, and find it hard to ask for help
• What happens when two people in one house lose their voices at the same time (washing pile included)
• The biggest lesson of all: gratitude for health, for feedback, and for the work I get to do

If you've ever pushed through when your body was telling you to stop, or struggled to ask for help when you needed it, this one's for you.

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Where to find Belinda:

Belinda Bayliss Co

www.belindabayliss.co

BelindaBayliss.co (Insta) and Belinda Bayliss Co (Facey_
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The Gen X Women in Business Podcast is produced for general educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared here constitutes professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should not be treated as such. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek support from a qualified professional. Where guests appear on this podcast, their opinions and views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Belinda Bayliss Co or the Gen X Women in Business Podcast. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

Transcript

0:00

hi, I'm Belinda. If you're a woman in business somewhere in your forties or fifties, juggling probably more than you should and still trying to sustain a business you care about, this podcast might just be for you. Welcome to Gen X Women in Business. Thank you so much for pressing play If you haven't met me before, if you're new here, I'm Belinda, and on Gen X Women in Business, we talk about all things women in the Gen X, Xennial, and Millennial age ranges, and of course, business. if you're a regular listener, thanks for tuning in. I'm always happy that you're here. So today I want to share five lessons that I learnt from losing my voice. So you may or may not have guessed it, but I'm a bit of a chatterbox. Always have been. So losing my voice for almost two weeks came with some interesting observations. Let's call them life lessons. I don't often get a cold or the flu, not ones that wipe me out, so the last few weeks have been really challenging. But I thought I'd share what I've learnt. So coming in at number five, being quiet is hard. much of my work revolves around my voice. From sitting alongside people coaching and in the therapy chair, my voice is my most precious tool. And in this space, listening comes naturally. But outside of these spaces, the urge to talk, to communicate, to sing along to my favorite song, it's pretty strong. As a small business owner, the facts are simple. Don't work, don't get paid. so looking after one of my most important business assets was tricky, and I'm not sure how well I succeeded at this one. Coming in at number four, bank podcasts. When my voice went, I didn't have any podcasts in reserve. I did have previously, but I let them out into the world, and my reasons for not having a bank were pretty simple. I really do love my podcast and this way of creating, and I didn't think I needed to bank them because I just loved doing them. I mean, I thought it was wise counsel to have a few up my sleeve, but with being away at a business retreat, which had tacked on a couple of extra days with my husband as a mini holiday, I pretty much used up my backups. I even recall a friend telling me that they had pre-recorded their whole podcast season before launch, which while I was super impressed with, really didn't think that that was for me. Boy, did those words come back to haunt me. this lack of backup episodes left a gap in my schedule, and sadly, no podcasts for almost two weeks. And even now, as I think about recording a few extras, see point one, I need to nurture my voice back to full health. Which leads me to number three, you know, the awkward middle child. I do not like being sick, letting people down, or relying on others. Firstly, I'm not a great sick person. This cold wiped me out like I haven't experienced in years. But I found myself still trying to do all the things I usually do. Rest and recovery are a real challenge. In fact, the first day I felt better, I found myself doing a week's worth of health food cooking so that I could get back to health, which literally had me in bed all the next day. I did have to cancel some face-to-face sessions because I really didn't wanna share my cold, and this felt uncomfortable. I don't like that feeling of letting people down, which to be honest, I'm certain wasn't what anyone was feeling. Also, having to ask for things is uncomfortable, mostly from my poor supportive husband. But as an independent woman, firstborn child, you get the picture, asking for help doesn't come naturally. Luckily, I have a very supportive hubby who offered help, so it was actually more about accepting than asking for help, if I'm honest. Until he caught the same thing, which leads me to the second last in the countdown. The almost made first place, but not quite number two. Two people sick in a household, both with little to no voice, is only fun when you're watching it on a sitcom. Our washing pile is way bigger than is comfortable. Everything is being done at the basic level, and worst of all, we were in the middle of a renovation repair of our shower, which we've been too unwell to finish. Luckily, we have a bath, but it's not quite the same thing, right? Communication has been tricky. Two people talking in horse whispers while sick has created a couple of uncomfortable misunderstandings, which for me, means that I've had to be more deliberate in my communication. Which leaves number one, the biggest lesson I have learnt from losing my voice, and that is gratitude. Being sick and losing my voice has made me so grateful for what I have when I am well. My work alongside people is both important to me, but also still inspires me. I really do love my podcasts and putting my thoughts out to the world. While I was really sick last week, I received two random, unsolicited messages from friends about how my podcast impacted them in such a positive way. It was just lovely to receive those messages. Podcasting really feels like speaking into the void at times, but it's a space I find quite comfortable, but feedback makes it just that bit more fun. And I found a gratitude for my health. To be honest, I don't always make the best health choices. I try at it, but sometimes it slips. And while I know there are reasons for that, which is a whole other podcast, to be honest, I also know there are better options available to me that I don't always take. I need to make better nutrition choices, move more, and get back to getting out and doing things like walking, riding my bike, and heading to the gym. Things I've let go in the busyness of it all, running two businesses, building the tech in the background, recording podcasts, writing the newsletter, And the endless hunger that is the social media pit. It's always said that you don't appreciate something as much as when you lose it. And so, as I finish recording today, my plan is to put my shoes on and head out for a walk. I'm not sure how far, given that I'm still recovering, but movement, fresh air, sunlight, and nature will all be something I will take in today with a sense of gratitude. Once again, I really thank you for pressing play. If you found some resonance in today's episode and you think there's something worth sharing, I'd love it if you'd forward this podcast to a friend, Or feel free to comment if that's more your thing. If you never wanna miss an episode, subscribing on the platform that you're listening to is the best way to know when a new episode drops. And finally, if you feel it deserves it, A five-star rating on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts would be more than appreciated. Anyway, I hope that wherever your day takes you, it's an awesome one. Till next time. Bye. And now the boring but necessary part. The Gen X Women in Business Podcast is produced for general educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared here constitutes psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should not be treated as such. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek support from a qualified professional where guests appear on this podcast, their opinions and views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Belinda Bayless Co. Or the Gen X Women in Business Podcast. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.